The Chinese Air Force's J-16 heavy fighter jet may have encountered the US F-35C carrier-based aircraft for the first time! On July 3, 2025, the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command conducted maritime and air combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace of the Huangyan Island and surrounding areas. According to the released footage, the Chinese Navy deployed one 054A frigate and two 056A frigates. The Chinese Air Force's aircraft included a large number of J-16 heavy fighters, Su-30 fighters, and H-6K long-range anti-ship bombers, among which the H-6J long-range bomber was equipped with YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles. The deployment of so many forces by the Chinese People's Liberation Army is due to the US Washington-class aircraft carrier battle group approaching the Huangyan Island, preparing to carry out provocation: On July 1, the US Navy's Washington-class aircraft carrier passed through the Bashi Channel into the South China Sea. On July 2, the US Navy's Washington-class aircraft carrier had already arrived in the eastern sea area of the Huangyan Island, and it is reported that it approached within less than 28 nautical miles (about 51.856 kilometers) of the Huangyan Island.
According to publicly released footage from the US Navy, the Washington-class aircraft carrier flew a large number of F-35C carrier-based aircraft, F-18 carrier-based aircraft, and E-2 early warning aircraft over the northeastern sea area of the Huangyan Island. Obviously, the Chinese Air Force's J-16 heavy fighter jets, Su-30 fighter jets, and H-6K long-range anti-ship bombers encountered the nearby US Navy carrier-based aircraft. The US Navy's Washington-class aircraft carrier is about 50 kilometers away from the Huangyan Island, and this time it is clearly intentional. The Washington-class aircraft carrier also organized a military delegation from US allies, inviting military personnel and media journalists from Japan, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and other countries to board the Washington-class aircraft carrier. This means that the Chinese Air Force's J-16 heavy fighter jets may have encountered the US F-35C carrier-based aircraft for the first time, and it is in the South China Sea, near the Huangyan Island.
From the types of fighter jets deployed by the Chinese Air Force, the Chinese Air Force did not deploy the J-20 stealth fighter jets, but relied on the long-range strike capabilities of the J-16 heavy fighter jets to conduct long-range air combat against the US F-35C and F-18 carrier-based aircraft. The J-16 heavy fighter jet is equipped with the PL-10, 12, 15, and 17 missiles, which can strike the US F-35C and F-18 carrier-based aircraft at ranges between 10 km and 300 km. In the South China Sea, where China has the advantage of home-field operations, as soon as the movement of the US F-35C and F-18 carrier-based aircraft is detected, the J-16 heavy fighter jets can complete the beyond-visual-range air combat strikes against the US carrier-based aircraft.
The US Navy's Washington-class aircraft carrier is about 50 kilometers away from the Huangyan Island, and the US carrier-based aircraft have entered the range of the J-16 heavy fighter jet's PL-12 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. If the distance between the two sides becomes closer, the J-16 heavy fighter jet can prepare the PL-10 dogfighting air-to-air missile (range 20 kilometers).
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836618156731404/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.